132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1544		LR 671(05)
	An Act to Support Families by Improving the Court Process for Child Protection Cases
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Engrossed with: C "A" (S-328) S "A" (S-683) to C "A" (S-328)
	Committee: Judiciary
Fiscal Note
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill makes changes to the court process for child protective cases that includes language that the Department of Health and Human Services (department) must have exhausted the options to mitigate the immediate risk of serious harm to a child and avoid removal from the child's home. It is unclear how the term "exhausted the options" will be defined in the courts, thus it is unknown if this bill will have an impact on costs in the department.